Exchange Chambers staff celebrate career milestones

July 27, 2026

Five members of staff at Exchange Chambers are celebrating career milestones.

Senior IT Officer Jon Atkinson, Receptionist Paula Byrne and Secretary Sharon “Shaz” Davidson are each marking 30 years with Chambers, while Senior Criminal Clerk Kate Masher and Criminal Clerk Suzanne Dutch have recently reached 25 years’ service.

Between them, they have supported generations of barristers and clients while helping Exchange Chambers grow into one of the country’s leading sets.

Their careers have also spanned a period of enormous change. When they joined Chambers, communication was dominated by letters, fax machines and paper files. Today, technology underpins almost every aspect of legal practice at the Bar.

The most recent addition to Exchange Chambers’ 30-year club is 49-year-old Jon who joined Chambers in 1996 in his first full-time role. Looking back, he remembers green-screen computers, floppy disks and an IT set-up that consisted of just a single server and network switch.

Thirty years later, Exchange Chambers’ IT team supports more than 200 barristers and staff through a modern technology infrastructure that Jon has helped to build.

Jon said:

“The biggest change has been the pace of technology. Almost every aspect of the way we work has changed over the past three decades, but what has remained constant is the quality of the people and the sense of teamwork across Chambers.”

Jonathan I’Anson, Chief Executive of Exchange Chambers, said:

“Reaching 25 or 30 years with any organisation is a tremendous achievement. Paula, Sharon, Jon, Kate and Suzanne have each made an outstanding contribution to Exchange Chambers and have played an important role in our development and success. Their dedication, loyalty and professionalism are greatly valued, and we are delighted to celebrate these milestones with them.”

Ben Myers KC, Joint Deputy Head of Chambers, added:

“What makes Exchange Chambers special is its people. The experience, commitment and knowledge that Paula, Sharon, Jon, Kate and Suzanne bring to Chambers every day cannot be overstated. We are immensely grateful for their dedication and for everything they have contributed over the years.”